After all the work I’ve been doing on pant drafting, I’ve decided to start a new weaving project before I try to draft out a pair of jeans.
The weaving group is doing a “weaving canasta”. You draw 5 cards from a deck, each with a different weaving requirement. Then you make something using those 5 requirements. My second card had ‘satin weave’ and since I only have 4 shafts, I was able to replace it. Yay!
So my cards are…
- Orange
- Use only wool
- Atwater – Bronson Lace
- Thick and thin
- Variegated weft
Using only wool has been the tricky one as I have some lovely mixed fibres and silks that would have worked out really well.
My initial idea was to use a plain charcoal background with a variegated sock yarn. The sock yarn was to be put in a check pattern, similar to a Burberry check, but having the stripe woven in the lace pattern on a plain weave background.

I’ve been told that I play to ‘safe’ with my colours, so I’m not going to use the charcoal yarn. Instead I’ve ombre dyed a skein of wool in a light peach – just subtle variegation. That’s my orange and variegated weft sorted out. Using the same structure I had before for the lace. Just thick/thin to do. I’m going to use a light grey mohair bouclé yarn to outline the stripe sections. Ok, it’s a light charcoal ( not as adventurous after all) but it’s just 8 warp threads – and I think the colours look good together.

The warp is ready to go onto the loom.

Here is how the sample turned out. I like how the lace turned out but I don’t like the look of the sample. Bedraggled old dishcloth? I need to work out how to bring this to life more. I think I’ll change the colour of the warp stripes (be a little more adventurous) and use add more lace in the design. I also need to change the lift-plan as my foot was screaming at me after just doing this sample.


You make me smile with “adventurous” I also get that label with some of my sewing combinations.
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